"If helping the poor is a crime, and fighting for freedom is rebellion, then I plead guilty as charged." --Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Recent military brutality in Samar

January 7, 2006

SAGUPA Condemns 46th IB Brutality in Basey, Samar

Basey countrysides are still in agony as military operation of the 46th IB escalates evidenced of several command posts littered all over far-flung areas of the said town, harboring fear and terror among the residents.

Reports disclosed that many farmers have fled their homes to take refuge in nearby barangays. This is currently happening in Sitio Roño, Barangay Old San Agustin, Basey, Samar. In November 2005, some farmers experienced military abuses, which persuaded them to air their complaints in radio stations to call for justice. The latest violation committed by soldiers belonging to the 46th IB involved the burning down of the house of a farmer on the mere suspicion of being a sympathizer or member of the communist rebels.

“Their right to life and property are threatened dueto this intensified militarization, including theirsole source of economic survival, which is farming.Several lives and properties have been ruined intoshambles brought about by military operations”, saidGacusana.

Elisa, not her real name, resident of Sitio Roño whosehouse was torched down by the members of the 46th IB,revealed that she is now under persistent surveillanceas she has voluntarily come out in the open to exposenumerous human rights abuses and terrorist actscommitted by the military.

“Our movements and activities are placed inrestrictions and monitored on mere suspicion that weare members of New People’s Army. Last November 25,2005, some 20 military men in full battle gear andwithout nameplates forcibly entered our residenceinsisting that we know the site of the NPA camp. As wetook no for an answer, they threatened to kill us. Myfather, 70 years old, was beaten with their riflebutts as he was being interrogated”, recalled Elisa.

“Lately, our house was burned down as we celebratedNew Year in my sister’s residence in Brgy. Old SanAgustin. We just discovered the burnt house on themorning of the January 1, 2006 when our neighborsrelayed to us the news regarding the incident. Atleast 12 men in civilian clothes but in combat shoessuspected to be military men came upon our residenceon the morning of December 31, 2005. Before midnight,they burned down the house including our personalbelongings, utensils, furniture and farm implements.Witnesses revealed that the perpetrators belonged tothe 46th Infantry Batallion with a certain Lt. Balasias the commanding officer of the military operationsince they have seen these men change into theirfatigue uniforms in Sitio Sagne, Brgy. Del Pilar afterthe incident.

Witnesses have also recognized the faces of theperpetrators, as they were the same troops who sowedunwanted intrusions to privacy and security in ourcommunity. Before the incident happened, we havereceived information that there are 15 houses,including ours, which will be burned down by themilitary. It happened that our house was the first oneto reduce into ashes”, Elisa lamented.

“We convinced the farmer-civilian-victims to submittheir sworn statements regarding the increased numberof human rights violations in your area for legalpurposes and to further prosecute these perpetratorsin uniform. We further call the attention of thegovernment to immediately take necessary andconstitutional steps and actions regarding thisconcern”, Gacusana said.

Meanwhile, Elisa and the other victims of human rightsviolations and suppression of people’s rights withimpunity demand justice and the immediate removal ofthe 46th IB in Basey, Samar.###